At the beginning of each new year we feel a sense of renewal and a chance to start over. New beginnings are all around us. They can be invigorating. something about starting over generates energy and commitment. Blank pages of a new calendar can give us a sense of opportunity, possibility, and even resolve. We work a little harder, reach a little farther, and somehow do a little more. What may have seemed out of reach just days before suddenly eenters the realm of possibility when a new year comes.
We all have successes in our past, just as we remember things we wish we had done a little better. But we need not become discouraged about our past mistakes any more than we should become too comfortable with our past accomplishments. Many mistakes can be corrected, just as many successes can be improved. Now might be a good time to reevaluate our goals and aspirations,, rethink our direction and purpose in life, and refocus our efforts and energy on worthwhile endeavors.
There is nothing in life quite like the feeling of cleanliness: clean clothes, clean house, clean hands, clean thoughts, clean hearts. A sense of cleanliness come with clearing out anything that is unworthy of us, putting out prejudice and pettiness, and repenting of the past. A new year invites us to wash away the negatives and take a fresh, clean look at ourselves and our surroundings. It brings an opportunity of clearing away the "litter": cleaning out old errors, false attitudes, gossip and grudges, envy, indolence, thoughtless acts and utterances. We should endeavor to practice less cynicism, less frustration, less despair, and more keeping the Lord's commandments, along with more repentance.
If you are one who makes "resolutions" as a new year opens, here are a few suggestions to include in your listing: study the scriptures every day, go to the Temple more often, spend more time with family, give more service to others,, and prayerfully consider choices.
One of our hymns contains the words: "Come, let us anew our journey pursue, roll round with the year, and never stand still..." (Come, Let Us Anew; hymn 217). As long as we keep moving forward and keep doing our best, no success or failure is final. sometimes even our most heartfelt resolutions go unfulfilled; maybe we just need a little more patience and hope. Consider 2nd Nephi 31:30 which, in part, states: "Wherefore, ye must press forward with steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men..." Each new year, each new day, can be filled with hope and possibility.
WWe learn from experience that goals and dreams are not always measured in outcomes, but often in attitudes. If we set our sights even a little bit higher, do just a little more than we did before, we will exceeds last year's marks; and maybe even next year's expectations. Stretch a little harder as we look to the new year. We gain a lot from beginning. We put more energy into accomplishing some of the things we have been putting off.
The moment we close the books on one year, we open them on another. No matter how good (or bad) last year was, there is this new year to consider. Each new day is a fresh start, a clean slate, a new chance to change, improve, and try again.
Happy New Year!
Sister Val Walsh
Secretary, Centralia Stake Relief Society
No comments:
Post a Comment